Education and Training Needs for High-Tech Facility Operators

Dear high-tech facilities expert,

Thank you for your time to completing the following survey on high-tech facility operations education and training needs. In this survey, we define high-tech facilities as laboratories, data centers, cleanrooms, hospitals, and related facilities. Your input will help us determine the need for and scope of targeted education and training for high-tech facility operators. For this survey, we are using the following definition: a "building operator, engineer, or technician" maintains and operates mechanical building systems (including HVAC, lighting, electrical, and sometimes fire/life/safety, vacuum systems, wetlabs, and others). We recognize that there are variations to this general job description and that there may be different "titles" used by different organizations.

Background: The International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), and Laney College’s National Science Foundation-funded Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center are collaborating to identify education and training needs and strategies for operators of high-tech facilities. Through our interactions with industry stakeholders on multiple occasions, it is apparent that available education and training paths do not adequately address the increasingly complex knowledge and skills needed to operate and maintain high-tech facilities. Compared to commercial facilities, environmental health and safety liabilities and worker risks are much greater, the building energy use intensities are higher, and the building occupant needs are more volatile and complex. With many more high-tech facilities being created and their energy and sustainability performance requirements becoming more stringent, we expect an even greater shortage of qualified building technicians for high-tech facilities.

Through its co-sponsorship of Labs21, I2SL partnered with Laney College, and the R&D Council of the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) to explore this need within the Labs21 community. Since 2009, Laney College and I2SL have chaired several O&M symposia at the Labs21 Annual Conference, doing so again at the I2SL Annual Conference in 2013. As such, the partners were able to arrive at a set of specific knowledge “gaps” for high-tech facility operators and managers not addressed by any known curriculum or organization.

At the Labs21 2012 Annual Conference, Laney and I2SL conducted a preliminary and informal survey to capture and verify opinions and statements that had been expressed at Labs21. The results clearly supported I2SL’s belief but as the number of participants was limited, a broader sampling was necessary.

This survey expands upon the preliminary survey and is being more widely distributed. I2SL and Laney College welcome the responses of senior facility managers, facility engineers, operators, and maintenance experts to validate the needs.

The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. A formal report will be presented at the 2013 I2SL Annual Conference (formerly Labs21) being held in Minneapolis, MN, September 24-26 (see http://www.i2sl.org/conference/2013/index.html). A written report is expected to follow in 2014.

Thank you for your expertise and time! Those interested in working with us on this project should write us at info@i2sl.org.

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5.
Characteristics of High-Tech Building and Facilities

Please rate the following content areas for a potential education and training program for BUILDING OPERATORS , TECHNICIANS, or ENGINEERS of high-tech facilities (general definition given in introduction). We are asking your expert advice because you are a building operator yourself or are managing or closely working with building operations staff. In regards to the competencies areas listed in the following questions, does a high-tech building operator need:

1. a "detailed understanding" to include an in-depth technical understanding, comprehensive knowledge, and frequent experience with equipment, systems, policies, and terminology; 2. a "basic understanding" to include a casual familiarity with equipment, systems, policies, and terminology, typically not involved in trouble-shooting, repair and replacement; 3. "awareness only" defining a rudimentary appreciation for function and purpose with brief exposures to equipment, systems, polices and terminology; or 4. "knowledge and skills not needed" when recognizing the individual has no exposure or responsibility to equipment, systems, policies or expected to communicate with others on these topics.

detailed understanding

basic understanding

awareness only

knowledge and skills not needed

Common objectives of high-tech facilities

Common objectives of high-tech facilities detailed understanding

Common objectives of high-tech facilities basic understanding

Common objectives of high-tech facilities awareness only

Common objectives of high-tech facilities knowledge and skills not needed

Complexity of codes, standards and regulations

Complexity of codes, standards and regulations detailed understanding

Complexity of codes, standards and regulations basic understanding

Complexity of codes, standards and regulations awareness only

Complexity of codes, standards and regulations knowledge and skills not needed

Sub-categories of high-tech facilities: labs

Sub-categories of high-tech facilities: labs detailed understanding

Sub-categories of high-tech facilities: labs basic understanding

Sub-categories of high-tech facilities: labs awareness only

Sub-categories of high-tech facilities: labs knowledge and skills not needed

Integrating user activities with building management systems awareness only

Integrating user activities with building management systems knowledge and skills not needed

Energy and management

Energy and management detailed understanding

Energy and management basic understanding

Energy and management awareness only

Energy and management knowledge and skills not needed

O&M and PM responsibilities

O&M and PM responsibilities detailed understanding

O&M and PM responsibilities basic understanding

O&M and PM responsibilities awareness only

O&M and PM responsibilities knowledge and skills not needed

Other

Other detailed understanding

Other basic understanding

Other awareness only

Other knowledge and skills not needed

Other (please specify)

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19.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)

detailed understanding

basic understanding

awareness only

knowledge and skills not needed

Overview of BIM

Overview of BIM detailed understanding

Overview of BIM basic understanding

Overview of BIM awareness only

Overview of BIM knowledge and skills not needed

Terminology

Terminology detailed understanding

Terminology basic understanding

Terminology awareness only

Terminology knowledge and skills not needed

Value of information, knowing what you need to know

Value of information, knowing what you need to know detailed understanding

Value of information, knowing what you need to know basic understanding

Value of information, knowing what you need to know awareness only

Value of information, knowing what you need to know knowledge and skills not needed

Managing and maintaining information

Managing and maintaining information detailed understanding

Managing and maintaining information basic understanding

Managing and maintaining information awareness only

Managing and maintaining information knowledge and skills not needed

Modules that support O&M and PM

Modules that support O&M and PM detailed understanding

Modules that support O&M and PM basic understanding

Modules that support O&M and PM awareness only

Modules that support O&M and PM knowledge and skills not needed

O&M and PM responsibilities

O&M and PM responsibilities detailed understanding

O&M and PM responsibilities basic understanding

O&M and PM responsibilities awareness only

O&M and PM responsibilities knowledge and skills not needed

Other

Other detailed understanding

Other basic understanding

Other awareness only

Other knowledge and skills not needed

Other (please specify)

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20.
Metering and sub-metering

detailed understanding

basic understanding

awareness only

knowledge and skills not needed

Trends and systems

Trends and systems detailed understanding

Trends and systems basic understanding

Trends and systems awareness only

Trends and systems knowledge and skills not needed

Dashboards, controls, and security

Dashboards, controls, and security detailed understanding

Dashboards, controls, and security basic understanding

Dashboards, controls, and security awareness only

Dashboards, controls, and security knowledge and skills not needed

Range of meters (energy to IAQ)

Range of meters (energy to IAQ) detailed understanding

Range of meters (energy to IAQ) basic understanding

Range of meters (energy to IAQ) awareness only

Range of meters (energy to IAQ) knowledge and skills not needed

Benefits to owners/users, other stakeholders

Benefits to owners/users, other stakeholders detailed understanding

Benefits to owners/users, other stakeholders basic understanding

Benefits to owners/users, other stakeholders awareness only

Benefits to owners/users, other stakeholders knowledge and skills not needed

O&M and PM responsibilities

O&M and PM responsibilities detailed understanding

O&M and PM responsibilities basic understanding

O&M and PM responsibilities awareness only

O&M and PM responsibilities knowledge and skills not needed

Other

Other detailed understanding

Other basic understanding

Other awareness only

Other knowledge and skills not needed

Other (please specify)

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21.
Communication, Relationships and Negotiations

detailed understanding

basic understanding

awareness only

knowledge and skills not needed

Communicating with executives

Communicating with executives detailed understanding

Communicating with executives basic understanding

Communicating with executives awareness only

Communicating with executives knowledge and skills not needed

Working with users

Working with users detailed understanding

Working with users basic understanding

Working with users awareness only

Working with users knowledge and skills not needed

Working with neighbors and communities

Working with neighbors and communities detailed understanding

Working with neighbors and communities basic understanding

Working with neighbors and communities awareness only

Working with neighbors and communities knowledge and skills not needed

Working with authorities having jurisdiction

Working with authorities having jurisdiction detailed understanding

Working with authorities having jurisdiction basic understanding

Working with authorities having jurisdiction awareness only

Working with authorities having jurisdiction knowledge and skills not needed

Increasing awareness of responsibilities

Increasing awareness of responsibilities detailed understanding

Increasing awareness of responsibilities basic understanding

Increasing awareness of responsibilities awareness only

Increasing awareness of responsibilities knowledge and skills not needed

Other

Other detailed understanding

Other basic understanding

Other awareness only

Other knowledge and skills not needed

Other (please specify)

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22.
Sustainability

detailed understanding

basic understanding

awareness only

knowledge and skills not needed

Setting goals and objectives

Setting goals and objectives detailed understanding

Setting goals and objectives basic understanding

Setting goals and objectives awareness only

Setting goals and objectives knowledge and skills not needed

Supporting organizations and networking

Supporting organizations and networking detailed understanding

Supporting organizations and networking basic understanding

Supporting organizations and networking awareness only

Supporting organizations and networking knowledge and skills not needed

Finding a champion and forming collaboration

Finding a champion and forming collaboration detailed understanding

Finding a champion and forming collaboration basic understanding

Finding a champion and forming collaboration awareness only

Finding a champion and forming collaboration knowledge and skills not needed

Environmental management systems

Environmental management systems detailed understanding

Environmental management systems basic understanding

Environmental management systems awareness only

Environmental management systems knowledge and skills not needed

International Standards of Operation (ISO), Six Sigma, etc.

International Standards of Operation (ISO), Six Sigma, etc. detailed understanding

International Standards of Operation (ISO), Six Sigma, etc. basic understanding

International Standards of Operation (ISO), Six Sigma, etc. awareness only

International Standards of Operation (ISO), Six Sigma, etc. knowledge and skills not needed

Other

Other detailed understanding

Other basic understanding

Other awareness only

Other knowledge and skills not needed

Other (please specify)

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23.
Having reviewed the topic areas above, are there other topic areas related to the operation of high-tech facilities that you would recommend be included in an education/training pathway for high-tech building operators (briefly describe in box provided)?

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24.
If these topic areas were assembled into coursework leading to a certificate (e.g. at a community college), would you be interested in seeking the certificate (if you are an operator) or would you encourage your operations staff to seek the certificate (if you are a building manager)?

no opinion

yes

no

Comments

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25.
If these topic areas were assembled into coursework that leads to an industry certification exam, would you seek certification (if you are the operator) or would you encourage your operations staff to seek certification (if you are the building manager)

no opinion

yes

no

Comments

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26.
Have you taken, been required, or required staff to take any professional development specifically oriented toward the operations, management or maintenance of high technology facilities?

yes

no

Comments

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27.
If yes, please specify in what role.

Owner’s Facility Manager

Building operator/engineer, HVAC technician

Building automation technician/building controls technician

Energy manager

Maintenance personnel

Other

Other (please specify)

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28.
Please specify the training institution, length, and cost of previous professional training in high-tech facilities. What was addressed? Was it adequate? What was missing?

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29.
Would your employer or union encourage you to seek industry certification for high-tech facilities?

not known

yes

no

Comments

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30.
Would your employer or union encourage you to take professional development coursework in high-tech facility operations at a community college?

not known

yes

no

Comments

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31.
If an industry certification for high-tech building operators were to be created, should it build upon any specific existing certification? If yes, briefly describe and explain below.

no opinion

yes

no

Comments

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32.
If certified, what increase would you expect in your earnings?

no increase

less than 5%

less than 10%

more than 10%

Briefly explain

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33.
Please describe in the box provided what types of incentives would encourage building staff to attend training and certification in high-tech facilities?

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34.
Please provide the country for which your responses above are applicable.

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35.
Would you like to stay informed of our efforts in education and training for high-tech facility operators? Is so, please provide your contact information below.

Name

Title

Affiliation

Email

Phone

Address

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36.
Would you be interested in serving on an advisory group for this effort? (If yes, please be sure you leave your contact info above.